Ukrainian flag raised over Zmiinyi Island in Black Sea

Ukrainian flag raised over Zmiinyi Island
Ukrainian flag raised over Zmiinyi Island

Read also: Pentagon disputes Russian claim of abandoning Snake Island out of “good will”

The head of the press center of the Defense Forces of the South of Ukraine, Natalya Gumenyuk, said at a briefing that the Ukrainian flag had been raised on Zmiinyi island.

“The military operation has been completed and the territory has once again been returned to the jurisdiction of Ukraine,” she said.

Read also: Russian retreat from Snake Island to ease pressure on Ukrainian coast, notes ISW

The South Operational Command South reported on June 30 that after powerful artillery strikes by the Ukrainian army, the Russian invaders had hastily evacuated the remnants of the occupation garrison on two speed boats and left Zmiinyi Island, a rocky islet in the western Black Sea.

The Russian Ministry of Defense later confirmed that the Russian military had fled from Zmiinyi Island, calling it a "goodwill gesture."

Read also: How Ukraine forced Russia to abandon Snake Island

In contrast, the UK Ministry of Defense said that the Russian retreat from the island had in no way been a "goodwill gesture."

Read also: Satellite images show Zmiinyi Island after Russians flee it

The Pentagon also disputed the Kremlin's version of events, noting that Ukrainian forces had been very successful in exerting significant pressure on the Russian forces occupying Zmiinyi island.

According to Forbes, due to the Ukrainian artillery strikes on Zmiinyi, the Russians lost almost a billion dollars’ worth of equipment.